Rail joint



o. A. HANSEN 1 1,724,581

RAIL JOINT Filed Sept. 27, 1928 g 0 0% mm Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED FFIQE.

OTTO AI. HANSEN, OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN.

RAIL JOINT.

This invention relates to rail joints. Objects of this invention are to provide a novel form of rail joint which will provide a simple, inexpensive, and efiicient construc tion adapted to compensate for wear, expansion and contraction from temperature or other causes, and which will maintain a flush joint at all times and provide for the smoother riding of the cars upon the rails, avoid vibration, and save not only the rails, but the road bed as well, and eliminate the constant pounding at the joints of the rails as well as relative motion between adjacent rail ends.

Further objects are to provide a rail joint in which a wedge construction is employed and in which the wedge is yieldingly urged inwardly to fill the gap normally existing between the rail ends and thus to insure a 2 flush joint for the rails at all times.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rail joint with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a plan View with a part broken w y;

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1, the wedge and associated parts not being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device is adapted to join a pair of rails, each having a base 1, a web 2, and a top 3. The rails are joined by means of fish plates 4 bolted, as shown in the drawings, and are spaced apart to allow for expansion and contraction.

The adjacent ends of the rails are cut away along slanting lines 5 so as to form a wedge-like recess jointly at the ends of the rails. This wedge-like recess is filled by means of a wedge 6 which is provided with a projecting pin or similar member 7 carried within an elongated slot 8 of a bracket 9. The bracket may be bolted to one of the fish plates, as shown in the drawings, and is arranged at the central point between the rails. Preferably, the wedge is provided with a tapered face, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to dovetail with the rails.

The purpose of this construction is to hold the wedge down flush with the top of each rail at all times. A spring 10 is loosely carried by the pin 7 and bears at one end against the wedge 6 and at the other end against the bracket 9. This spring constantly urges the wedge towards the rails and thus takes up the slack or fills the space between the successive rails.

At all times it will be noted that a flush joint is formed between successive rail ends and the chance of tilting or rising of one end with reference to the adjacent end is avoided, as the wedge holds the ends in alignment.

Further, it is to be noted that the flushjoint prevents pounding of the wheels of the car as they pass from one rail to the next rail. The wear is, therefore, materially reduced and the pounding is substantially eliminated.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting as the invention may be variously embodie. and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

1. A rail joint comprising a pair of rails having juxtaposed ends, said ends being cut away to provide a wedge-shaped recess jointly between the rail ends, said wedge shaped recess having overhanging edges, a wedge having dovetailed edges fitting within said recess, and yielding means urging said wedge into engagement with said rails.

2. A rail joint comprising a pair of rails having juxtaposed ends, each end being cut away along a slanting line to provide a wedge shaped recess between said rails, a wedge slidably interlocked with said rails and fit ting within said recess, a fish plate joining said rails, a bracket carried by the fish plate, guiding means carried'by said wedge and projecting through said bracket, and a spring interposed between the bracket and the wedge.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Appleton, in the county of Outagamie and State of Wisconsin,

OTTO A. HANSEN. 

